WASHINGTON: US air carriers mobilised on Saturday to help passengers and crew members stranded by the overnight shutdown of Spirit Airlines, after last-minute talks with creditors and the White House collapsed.

The budget airline known for its bright yellow planes succumbed to crushing fuel prices and announced in the early hours of Saturday that “all flights have been cancelled, and customer service is no longer available” as it “started winding down its global operations, effective immediately.” Other carriers, including American, Delta, United, and jetBlue, leapt at the news on Saturday, offering what some dubbed “rescue fares” to those waking up with cancelled itineraries.

Some said they were increasing flights or the size of planes in and out of airports where Spirit had a significant presence.

Carriers also sought to support marooned Spirit staff — and hire them.

Several carriers encouraged now-jobless crew members to apply to their open roles.

Spirit had been in bankruptcy since August 2025 — its second in less than a year — and the White House had been considering a bailout.

“The recent material increase in oil prices and other pressures on the business have significantly impacted Spirit’s financial outlook,” the company said in a statement. “With no additional funding available to the company, Spirit had no choice but to begin this wind-down.” It has promised refunds.

US Transportation Secre­tary Sean Duffy scrambled to defend the Trump administration’s position as a rescue plan never materialised.

“The president was like a dog on a bone trying to figure out a way to keep Spirit afloat,” Duffy said in a morn­ing press conference.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2026